Fat Cat

Bedroom, all done

2012-01-15T13:52:00.000+01:00

Remember the bedroom ? On a good day, it looked something like this.

And on a bad day ? I prefer not to show.

Mostly I managed to fill it up to the rafters with all sorts of stuff. Not that I actually own any rafters, but you get the picture. There's only so many sunburst mirrors and West German pottery vases you can display before it gets too overwhelming. And I passed that point a long time ago.

So over the last couple of month I've been a busy bee - decluttering, cleaning, dusting, repainting, selling crap on ebay, shopping at Ikea... And now I've finally got something to show for my troubles.

Yep, bye bye vintage wardrobes and highboards! I've gone rogue and gave in to the Ikea Pax appeal.

Sleek, tall, white and 3.5 meters of incredible storage space. Honestly, they were a real pain to transport and assemble - and I could not have done without my incredible patient and determined brother and equally helpful sister-in-law (Thank you so much guys !!!). But they are so worth it !

Of course, getting these cupboards implied moving everything else around. Which gets me to the fun part - rearranging my belongings. It's a never ending story...

I also invested in some additional Tomado shelves. A girl can never have too many of those...

Some new plants (I'm afraid there have been some casualties to the great bedroom remodel of 2011) and some new additions to my West German pottery collection. As you can see, I'm now also collecting the neutral coloured ones. I'm beyond help on that topic...

Verdict ? Ok, it's less retro and colourful than it used to be. And definitely more grown-up. But I can finally breath in here and get some work done without being distracted by the accumulation of clutter.

Of course, I still got some details to take care of. Don't know if you noticed, but I need to get some window treatments. I'm still debating which kind to choose. In the meantime, I'm just hoping there aren't too many peeping toms in the neighborhood.
I also started painting the trim in black. What a stupid idea ! Turns out I don't like it at all. So now I need to do it all over again - in white. And there's also the window frames and the radiator that need a fresh coat of paint. And I need a new overhead light. And I want to replace all the green and blue binders with white ones... And so on and so forth.

Which brings me to my final part of today's post. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy 2012, full of fun and exciting home projects. Happy decorating and thrifting all around. It's gonna be a good one. I can feel it :-)

Sneak Peek

2011-12-18T17:37:00.000+01:00

In between Christmas preparations, cooking and cleaning, I managed to take a couple of not too grainy pictures of the bedroom. Really just a tease, because the rest of the room is still pretty much a complete mess.

As you can see, the new bedroom styling involves lots of Tomado shelving and West German pottery. So far, I'm not straying too far from home.

Oh yes, and I thought I'd give a chance to the whole "neutral and tasteful" vibe that all the cool kids are devoted to nowadays...

Ch-Ch-Changes

2011-12-12T21:51:00.001+01:00

Big changes indeed ! Which for the moment mostly involve making a gigantic mess...

... moving out furniture and selling off a whole bunch of stuff on ebay (and still finding the time to flip through Design Sponge at Home ) ...

... and blogging on the coffee table while od'ing on coffee... How 'à propos'.

Yes, you guessed it, I had the brilliant idea to tackle a complete overhaul of my bedroom right before Christmas and the end of year marathon to get all the school projects in.

I'm pleading the temporary insanity card and blaming flipping through too much 'Design Sponge at Home' for all this foolishness.

So how are you guys getting on with your Christmas preparations ?

My home in IKEA FAMILY LIVE magazine

2011-11-02T18:46:00.019+01:00

Probably the most exciting news around here for a long time. 'Cos let's face it, I'm kinda in a slump on the whole interior decor/thrifting front. And let's be honest, how excited can you get about finding yet another sunburst mirror ?

Over the past twelve months, I have been contacted by various Ikea editors to see if I was interested in having some photos of my home published in their magazine. Hell, yeah !

But talk about things moving slowly. Case in point. The whole thing took over a year to come through...

Anyhow, it's now official. Drum roll please ! I got a two page spread in their Autumn 2011 edition and if you disregard the most horible photo ever taken of me (thank god, they only used a tiny black & white insert!), I'm very happy with how it all turned out. They used both my photos and my actual text. And yes, I really do think that Ikea does amazing textiles. But despite my hint about needing a new sofa, I didn't get any material rewards for my troubles. Not even a gift voucher for some cushions.Cheap bastards...

Ikea ! I still love you though, even if you're an ungrateful mistress.

Mirror, Mirror...

2011-10-08T11:50:00.011+02:00

Home projects continue to be slow and far apart.

Being back in school does have its perks though. Like getting an extra day off last week in honor of the "Fête de la Communauté Française", the main funding organism of french-speaking education institutions in Belgium.
Needless to say that when I still worked as a legal secretary for various American and British law firms, we were never granted a holiday on that day...

Why am I mentioning this ? Because I used that unexpected day off (and the beautiful weather) to indulge in my favourite open-air activity : rummaging through the Brussels flea market ! And of course, I didn't leave empty handed.

Lately, I seem to be set on finding mostly sunburst mirrors. After scoring that oval one at a local antiques store (for a mere 10 eur), my trip to the flea market saw me coming back with the very ornate (and probably slightly kitsch), top left specimen. Still at 20 eur, I didn't hit my budget too hard and it actually goes nicely with the four others.

At the rate I'm going that wall should be covered in no time.

Scandinavian Finds

2011-09-24T10:05:00.015+02:00

Things have been kinda slow around here - decorating wise at least. School has started again and studying for my programming classes is taking up most of my energy these days (I'm learning PHP and ASP.Net if anybody's interested).

Plus, I've declared a spending freeze after living way above my budget for most of 2011. No more ebay this month and so far, I've done pretty good.

Of course, that doesn't mean I've become a total thrifting abstainer. And when I come across an incredible deal, I might just be tempted enough to go for it.

Like these wonderful Arabia Finland storage jars - 20 eur for the three of them. Yes, 20 eur !

I'd never even seen the gooseberry pattern before this find.

Which brings me to another amazing Arabia find. This one already dates back a few months, but since it's the same range of ceramics and the price was even more mindblowing, I think it's about time I give it some attention.

So, I dug up this ceramic board from the bottom of a box of junk at the Brussels flea market. And paid... 3 eur for it !

It's not really serving any purpose other than decorating this little area next to the kitchen sink. But a vignette like this makes doing the dishes just so much more pleasant.

The Scandinavian theme even extend to the soap holder...

I brought this Figgjo Flint dish back from the UK earlier this year. I think I paid something like 10 gbp for it. It's from the Turi 'market' series which is one of my favourite FF designs.

And while I'm at it, let me also present the latest in a long line of Scandi finds. A cast-iron candle holder from Dansk Designs - which I think is actually a US brand (correct me if I'm wrong).

Love those spikes !

And look. It even came complete with its original box. That and the fact that it's in near perfect condition gladly made me cough up 25 eur for it.

And you ? An interesting finds lately ?

Autumn

2011-09-06T22:11:00.010+02:00

Autumn is here. It's cold, it's rainy, it's windy. I'm back in school. And the mood is just generally miserable.

It's that time of the year when you get home and it's already starting to get dark. And try as you may, you can't take anything but grainy photos.

It's that time when an extra blanket pops up on your bed again. And you just need to hang up some retro brass mirrors. You know, just for that tiny bit of extra light and warmth. And also because the sight of yet another budding collection just brings a silly smile to your face.

It's that time when you splurge on a new bedside lamp - one that gives off the most beautifully cosy light.

Like I said, the season of blurry pictures has begun.

The Big Kitchen Update

2011-08-27T14:37:00.024+02:00

So you may or may not have wondered where the hell I've been these last three weeks ? Well, here's your answer: slaving away on yet another kitchen update.

I think this time around we definitely have a winner. Now before the kitchen turned out anything near as fabulous (if I dare say so myself), it underwent several stages.

Let's recap.

Uh oh, way back when I still liked bright colours and messy kitchen tables. Although you may notice the paint samples - help was on the way...

Earlier this year, I eventually made up my mind about what colour to choose (Farrow and Ball's 'Pavillion Gray') and went to work.

Decor wise, I tried out my English antique bookcase for a while...

... in combination with a modern painting and some bright ceramics.

And then the inevitable happend : I didn't like that light gray anymore...

During the summer holidays my painting utensils made an appearence - yet again. Since I couldn't be bothered to repaint the whole room, I focused on this somewhat larger wall opposite the windows. I stayed faithful to Farrow & Ball - which I cannot recommend highly enough - and chose their über cool 'Down Pipe'. The most amazing dark gray I've ever come across.

Sorry for the annoying reflections on the poster. I need to get some sort of filter for my camera to take proper pictures of my art.
But just this much : it's only a plain old exhibition poster, but such a nice souvenir of my trip to London. And btw, if you're lucky enough to be in London right now, go check out the 'Eyewitness - Hungarian photography in the 20th century' exhibit at the Royal Academy. It's on til October and SO worth seeing !!!

Sometimes you just have to come full circle.

Yep, I went back to my original idea for this area and chose wall mounted shelves to host some of my collections. Except this time around I didn't go with my usual Tomado shelves, but got some bigger ones from ebay (where else ?). I don't know the name of this particular system (feel free to enlighten me), but they do pop up quite regularly on ebay Germany, so I'm suspecting that they might be of German make.

In any case, I think they're rad.

Let's take a closer look at the accessories, shall we ?

I got a little English and Scandinavian theme going on, to which I'm of course planning to add to. So far, we have : Hornsea owl and cat pepper shakers, two Orla Kiely storage jars, Kaj Franck and Catherineholm enamel bowls...

... Arabia Finland vase, Hornsea jam pot and - just to stir things up - a lovely retro plastic watering can.

A few close-ups for good measure. Aren't they cute, my Hornsea finds ?

Somebody, help me ! I can't stop myself. On top of being totally addicted to West German pottery and starting to be hooked on retro glass, I'm now also completely obsessed with vintage British ceramics. I've been cruising ebay like a maniac.

So expect more crazy posts about thrifty finds in the near future !

PS. For the record, I would also like to state that during these last three weeks, I've also accomplished the following:

painted the kitchen windows, doors and radiator white;
cleaned and decluttered the whole place like there's no tomorrow;
schlepped a ton load of stuff to the goodwill;
got rid of numerous pieces of furniture on ebay and freecycle;
and most of all, I started to deal with my giant black hole of a basement. That space is like the fucking Bermuda triangle: stuff is absorbed, never to be seen again...

Like I said, stay tuned for upcoming episodes.

Now this...

2011-08-04T22:31:00.011+02:00

... is what happens when your cat enjoys your new desk chair just as much as you do. He manages to wiggle in between your bum and the back of the chair - and actually goes to sleep there.

Note the cat bed on the right - totally disregarded.

But don't let Watson's adorableness fool you.

When it comes to sitting on this particular chair, things have a tendency to get nasty. Mr Watson is adamant the chair belongs to him. Hissing and scratching each time I try to push him off it...

He doesn't like to share ! I have to resort to drastic measures to get him to move. This involves taking out his claw clippers and pretending to come near his toes. Luckily for me, the mere sight of those scissors always makes him bolt.

See, I don't like to share either.

Ebay Craze III

2011-08-03T13:19:00.009+02:00

Indeed. I'm still not finished showing off my ebay loot from the past months...

Like I mentioned in my last post, I bought a lot containing no less than five fat lava vases. Besides that horrible brown and purple thing that I'm hiding in the loo, the other four vases are actually quite amazing. Like the two big ones above.

Both are Scheurich vases and marked W. Germany, the tall one with the orange decor is numbered 200-28 and the round one with the big red flowers is marked 484-21. Both have the same beigy brown lava glaze that reminds me a bit of baked meringue. Yum !

The little one in front, I thrifted during last year's summer holiday. And so far, the poor thing was kind of orphaned as it didn't really go with any of the other pottery sets. For a long time it stood all alone on the hall shelf, where - luckily - it survived a fall when said shelf came crashing down to the floor.
After that episode, the shelf got sold on ebay and the little vase was tucked away safely in a cupboard, in the hopes of better days...

Just for kicks and for those less interested in West German pottery, a view of the other side of the coffee table. Did I ever mention that this table was actually my first ever ebay buy ? Well, now I guess I did.

Yep, me and ebay we hit it right off.

The Loo - Before & After

2011-07-31T18:50:00.013+02:00

It's the tiniest room in the flat. It's a pain to photograph - way too long and narrow to ever get a halfway decent picture. And then it used to be the most neglected space of all.

But not anymore.

Now.

And before.

I put my unemployment period earlier this year to good use and finally painted over the horrid orange. I used the leftover paint from the kitchen - Farrow and Ball's Pavillion Grey. And this is by far the room where I like this colour the most (I also used it as an accent wall for the hall closet). I don't know how come, since both kitchen and toilet are facing west, but the light in here makes it look really grey and classy and not some weird blueish mish-mash like in the kitchen.

I also scored a couple more Tomado shelves of ebay. Yay Tomado ! Yay ebay !

Part of it as storage - like for the obvious toilet paper - but mostly to display more stuff. So far the vignetting isn't great as I'm mainly working with 'rejects' from other areas. But you get the idea.

Bearded dudes limited edition prints from Ashleyg on Etsy. And vintage Hans Bolling optimist and pessimist figurines.

More of the West German pottery craze from last month... My first Scheurich 414-16 vase with a rare purple glaze. This thing is so ugly, I now find it quite endearing and I might actually keep it. The only reason it ended up with me in the first place, is that is was part of a lot that containded far more attractive specimens (but more about them another time).

And finally, my newest obsession. Glass !

I blame Holly Becker and her book "Decorate" for this latest addiction. I don't know if you guys have already read her book (which I really recommend !), but the first picture in the book is actually of somebody's vintage green and blue glass collection. I thought it looked amazing. And thus the impulse, to thrift me some glazen holdiay souvenirs...

On the left, a bubble glass dish purchased for 9 gbp at the Topsham Antiques Centre and on the right, a vase of undefined origin, but at 4.50 gbp exactly in my price range (this one I found at the Exeter Quayside Antiques Centre).

My little finger is telling me : there's some serious glass collecting in the air...

Ebay Craze II

2011-07-10T20:04:00.007+02:00

Last time, I told you all about my tallest WGP purchase. This time it's all about the smallest one yet.

This teeny-tiny vase was picked up during last month's ebay frenzy. It's a Scheurich and at a whooping 7 cm, the smallest West German pottery I've ever come across.

I've decided to streamline the kitchen as much as possible, so the green collection (plus the white vase with matching pattern) is now living in the bedroom. I even squeezed in one of the green Eames chairs for good measure.

Flo couldn't care less.

Ebay Craze

2011-06-28T19:00:00.008+02:00

Ok. I went a little crazy on ebay this month. Of course, it goes without saying that my shopping spree was purely West German pottery related.

First on the list, this massive Scheurich floor vase. The tallest I have - 47 cm !

I think it looks fabulous in the hall. Fits right into the little ceramic decor thing going on out there: Italian wall plate my grandma bought on one of her first trips to Italy in the early 1950s, and a Ruscha plate I bought on ebay years ago. Long before I had ever even heard of West German pottery. My wallet thinks those where the good times.

Weekend find

2011-06-27T20:01:00.006+02:00

No, I never tire of buying more West German pottery...

Real fat lava by Bay Keramik. For a sweet 7 eur, brought down from 18. The seller said I had a lovely smile. No kidding. Such a beautiful find always brings a smile to my face.

Ever more red vases. Can you guess ? I'm smiling right now.

Kitchen peek

2011-06-19T09:53:00.005+02:00

The biggest job I tackled so far this year, has been repainting the long neglected hall, loo and kitchen.
Once I got going, the painting in itself was done pretty quickly. Documenting the process however, taking photos, editing and finally posting them - that's a whole other story... One that is paintstakingly slow...

Here's the best picture I managed to take so far of the kitchen. This room is a pain in the ass to capture - odd size, too much light, reflections everywhere, notoriously the messiest space in the house, with the ugliest floor tiles ever, window and door frames still not painted white... But enough with the excuses !

It's at least starting to come together.

Question

2011-06-14T17:47:00.003+02:00

Is one allowed to mix metals in one's interior ? Any ideas ?

The reason I'm asking ?

Case study.

I recently ditched my valiant Ikea Tranby mirror in honor of this thrifty 1950s specimen, which I picked up for about 20 eur (can't remember the exact amount right now).

While I still think the size and shape of the mirror are perfect for the space, I have however started to obsess about the less than perfect mixture of the mirror's brass frame and the stainless steal casing of the light.
Also, now that I'm taking a closer look at this photo, I'm thinking the different shapes involved - organic & rounded and very neatly rectangular - don't go so well together. I guess, I need a new light.

Suggestions ? Anyone ?

Fleamarket finds

2011-06-11T16:24:00.010+02:00

Fresh from this morning's fleamarket expedition. Ladies and Gentlemen. Drum roll. Collective uuhhing and aahhing, etc. etc.

I thought the Brussels fleamarket was all tapped out as far as WGP is concerned. But fortunately I was proven wrong...

Behold! One hell of a sexy, flashy and busty beast. And only 8 eur (haggled down from 15). Irresistible. At least by me.

This old camera isn't something I would usually pay much attention to. Being totally illiterate as far as photographic technique and history is concerned. Point and shoot is about the extent of my knowledge in this area.
But my dad spotted this little fella. He had exactly the same model when he was a kid - somewhere in the early 1950s. So he bought it and promptly gave it to me...

I don't know if it's still functioning or if you can even still buy film for these cameras. But anyhow, it works very well as a decorative object as well.

And finally the new vase in its new suroundings. As you can see it's the perfect big brother to this ebay find. And in light of today's score, I'm already kind of regretting paying 23 eur for the litlle one...

The white collection

2011-06-02T19:10:00.015+02:00

Besides specialising in vast amounts of West German Pottery, I've been known to indulge in the occasional porcelain buy. Case in point...

I'm particularly fond of these German (again...) mid-century vases. This one is marked Krautheim Selb Bavaria Germany, a manufacturer totally unknown to me.

So far I've only been collecting unglazed bisque vases, but after seeing this blogger's amazing collection, I might just widen the search.

Thankfully, there's a tiny little space left to just about squeeze in any future finds. Of course, I'm aiming to fill up that shelf with more vases. Because leaving some white space in your vignetting ? It ain't gonna happen around here !

Planter bonanza

2011-05-26T18:47:00.010+02:00

I'm unstoppable.

And borderline in need of clinical help.

Oh boy, am I a sucker for vintage planters. Never saw one that I could resist... So here it goes.

This massive specimen found its way home through ebay. I can't remember the exact price, but it was well under 20 eur (including shipping). And let me tell you, this puppy is HUGE and heavy. And of course deliciously bright red.

It was sold to me as being Belgian. From Amphora Perignem. But it's not marked in any way. I'm wondering if it's not a WGP instead.

Now this one is unmistakably West German. And it was only 1 eur. Score !

Less bawdy. But adorable 70s pop design. Also West German and also a steal at 1 eur.

Neutral fat lava at its best. And very decently priced - 2 eur.

And finally, a tiny little red fella. The only thing that made it back from a recent forage to the Brussels flea market. It was a disproportionate 4 eur, but really I didn't want to come home empty handed...

Desk chair quest

2011-05-07T16:53:00.013+02:00

Over the years, I've gone through an incalculable number of desk chairs. None of them seemed quite right. Too hard, not enough back support, too cold... Finding the right desk chair isn't an easy feat.

Here's a little recap.

Eames for Herman Miller.

Bertoia for Knoll.

High end names and brands or not, they all proved disppointing on a daily basis.

So this afternoon, enter the 36 eur ebay version.

An anonymous 70s design, but already my tush is feeling the difference (I'm sitting on it right now). The seat cushion is deliciously cozy and comfy.

Mr. Watson seems to approve as well.

Some gratuitous additional photos of my 'work' space.

Here's Watson again. The only downside to this chair might turn out to be, that I actually gonna have to fight him for it...

Front Balcony

2011-05-06T07:48:00.016+02:00

After numerous photos of the rear balcony, it's about time I show you the front one. If only to give me the final push to put in the finishing touches...

Old friends.

And new ones.

The other side, which obviously still needs some work.

Soon the big empty pots on the left will be holding tomatos and a pumpkin plant. And the wicker structure will hide a growbag with more tomatos and a cucumber plant.
And if you're wondering about the metal spiral thingy, I'll use it as a support for either the cucumber or the pumpkin.

Just to finish off with a nicer view. Happy weekend !!!

Now this...

2011-05-03T21:06:00.007+02:00

... is what happens when you leave your seat for two seconds to get yourself a drink...

And btw, it's incredible how much everything has grown in just a month.

Beginning of April on the other hand. Everything looked still pretty dreary.

Now what about you (and your pets) ? Have you been fortunate enough to enjoy some sunshine ?

Ebay find

2011-05-01T09:17:00.010+02:00

Ha ! I finally found a companion for the flashy floor vase that was feeling very lonely, adorning the Kewlox shoe storage cabinet all by itself.

I was the highest bidder at 16.75 eur, to which I however had to add 6 eur for shipping. Not exactly a score, but West German vases have been increasingly hard to find lately. At least, those with a decent price tag.

I particularly blame this BBC program for this unfortunate situation. They did an episode on the Brussels flea market a while back and one of their ceramics experts kept repeating that "West German ceramics are the antiques of the future"... Dude ! Keep your mouth shut ! And don't ruin it for the rest of us.

As a result, sellers are now asking outrageous prices for even the ugliest specimens.

Anyway, when this vase arrived, I was a bit disappointed at first. It had looked a lovely red in the seller's photos and I had high hopes of adding it to my red collection on the living room sideboard.

But in reality it turned out to be a dark orange, which annoyingly didn't go with any of my WGP arrangements. That is until I remembered the floor vase in the hall. As I said, the poor thing had been so lonely that I kept forgetting it's actually there... Voilà, the two are a perfect match. And they lived happily ever after !

Going green - litterally !

2011-04-30T11:07:00.023+02:00

This was a totally unexpected find. I was having coffee in an old café in Germany with the whole family and on my way to the bathroom, I spotted a collection of WGP vases on a window sill. I couldn't believe my eyes.

I chatted up the café owner and after some disbelief on his part ("What, you're collecting THESE ?"), he eventually agreed to part with this lovely green Scheurich vase for a mere 5 eur. Yes !

As you can see, the green collection is coming along nicely.

And so are the vegetable seedlings. Remember ? I sowed these just a month ago. Now most of them are already in dire need of being transplanted.
I started over the long Easter weekend with the tomatos on the left. But after pottering along on the balconies for two days, I ended up running out of compost. Sorry seedlings, you need to be patient for a little longer.

The mood around here

2011-04-28T17:46:00.009+02:00

The cats are cool (read "asleep") as usual.

And me ? Wish I could say the same. But alas, no rest in sight...
After having been fired from my last job, I decided to go back to school. For 14 months of web developer training no less. Jeez, my literary - (read "lazy") - brain is in total overdrive and about ready to burst...

But let me reassure you. I still have enough energy and time to stalk ebay and various thrift shops. Some fabulous finds are coming right up.

Weekend to-do

2011-04-09T07:37:00.007+02:00

Yeah, I know that is one horrible photo - both quality and subject wise.

Unfortunately this hot mess is no longer confined to the living room sideboard. Over the last few weeks, crap has slowly spilled over and out of the living room. And is now taking over the hall and is menacing the bedroom. I swear it's like this mess has a will of its own...

I spare you any further pictures. Plus it's still too dark to capture anything but the front room. Yep, I fell out of bed today, but - dude! - do I have a plan !

This desperate situation calls for drastic measures. Enter the weekend to-do list.

Finally get my lazy ass in gear and schlepp all the stuff destined for the cellar down to the cellar. Some of this stuff has been waiting in the hall for months now... making it increasingly difficult to enter my place... And NO, I don't want to end up in some crazy Hoarders TV show.
Hang second Enje shade in the kitchen (the first one has already been installed a while back - don't ask why the second one is taking so long). My Dad is scheduled to arrive in two hours to help. So this should definitely be feasable.
While Dad is here, ask him to help me install my new door handle. Yes kids, you guessed right. After obsessively stalking other people's rad 60s door handles (here, here and here), I finally scored one for myself !
Tidy up, organise, tidy up, organise, tidy up, organise, tidy up, organise, tidy up, organise, tidy up, organise, tidy up, organise, tidy up, organise...
Hoover and clean like there is no tomorrow. Or rather, like there IS a tomorrow and that tomorrow is bringing a family visit. And no, I don't want to be the black sheep, errr big fat slob, of the family...
Take care of all the normal weekend stuff : grocery shopping, thrifting (!), clean the cat loos, see friends, enjoy the sunshine...

Ok guys, it's now shortly after 8 am. I'm off to a quick shower (just in case I meet any neighbours on my way to the basement - you know, not wanting to appear as a total slob... ) and then off to work.

I'll let you know how the big battle turns out.

Update - it's now noon, my Dad just left and what did we accomplish ? One lousy Enje roller is now finally up. The door handle thing turned into a total disaster as we couldn't figure out how to get rid of the old one. No amount of turning or pulling could persuade the knob to move. It's been sitting on my entry door since 1959, and I have a feeling it's going to sit there for the next 50 years as well. Stupid thing !

Update 2 - Sunday, 7 am - I fell out of bed... again... So here's what I got done yesterday.

All the crap that cluttered up the hall is now either in the cellar or in the garbage bin. Success !
Grocery shopping
I decided I wouldn't have time to go thrifting. So that one can also be ticked of the list as well.
The cats can now poop on clean litter...
I also started tidying up the living room; the Cadovius shelves are now dust, cat hair and clutter free, and so is the seating corner. Still, the worse part remains mostly untackled...

This weekend

2011-04-04T18:12:00.005+02:00

I saw :

I planned ahead :

And I found :

I got this fantastic snail planter with my brother in thought. He's a keen gardener and, of course, as any proud allotment owner he absolutely HATES snails. Every year he's waging total war on them.

I'm thinking this might be the perfect tongue-in-cheek present for him. Hhmmm, or I might just keep this cutie for myself...

Spring ! I'm ready

2011-04-02T18:30:00.014+02:00

And so is June !

Spring is finally in the air. And this time around, I'm in the starting blocks to make the most of it. I've been a busy bee; cleaning, rearranging and planting up my little rear balcony.

The herb 'garden'. My trusted parsley, rosemary and oregano (at the end) made it through winter once again. They're in good company with some lovely daffodils. And soon (I hope), they will be joined by chives and garlic chives, which I've sown just today (in that empty-looking container).

I used to have a honeysuckle in this corner, but it never did very well. It's now living in a friend's garden where I'm sure it will be much happier. Instead of the crippled honeysuckle, I decided to give a climbing hydrangea a chance. I chose a variety that is not too invasive, so it should normally thrive in a container. So far, it seems to be doing very well !

Last year, I went for only plants out here and got rid of my table and chairs. This season, I'm definitely planning to spend much more time out here. Thus the reappearance of some seating.

I'm attempting a little Ikea upcycling, as this bench is part of the famous Molger bathroom range. I'll let you know how it holds up to outside weather conditions. This is basically a free experiment - I already had one in my possession, but ever since it got banned from my living room (once upon a time, this bench used to hold my old hi-fi), it was just collecting dust in the cellar. It's the perfect size for my tiny terrace, so I thought it would give it a try.

Throw some Ikea seat cushions on it, and - pouf! - instant outdoor seating.

Like I said, June is already having a good time :-)

What about you guys ? Did you get to enjoy some sunshine yet ? What are you doing with your outdoor spaces ?

Lucky finds & Kitchen sneak peek

2011-03-16T18:56:00.009+01:00

Magic 'shrooms...

Kaj Franck's amazing mushroom design on a Finel enamel bowl.

I have been lusting after one of these for the longest time. Next to impossible to find in these climes, I have been close on more than one occasion to ordering one on Etsy and have it shipped over from the US. But with a going rate of 75 usd and factoring in the shipping costs, it never quite seemed the right time to spend more than 100 usd on a bowl.

Lucky I resisted temptation this long (for once) ! Because I eventually came across this beautiful specimen on ebay Belgium, and NOBODY was interested. Unbelievable, right ?! Mine for 26 eur. And since the seller was local, I didn't even have to cough up any shipping costs. Yay !

A while back, I also found this Scheurich vase (with Inca decor) for a whooping 3 eur. I love the colour. And from what I've noticed, the green glazes are pretty rare in West German pottery. So this a pretty lucky find as well.

Together with the Strehla planter, I now got a little green collection going in the kitchen. Yay, one more collection!

Putting it all together, you get something like this.

And vignette with cat. Of course.

Hall closet before & after

2011-03-13T14:51:00.018+01:00

Are you ready ?

Here we go...

Way back in January. No comment...

The hall decor consisted mostly of clutter. How embarrassing.

And the inside of the small walk-in closet was even worse.

The last of the dreaded yellow - and some paint samples.

Mr Messy would feel right at home...

And then February brought : ebay success (coat rack is now sold),

... some much needed decluttering,

... also some harassing paint work,

... and finally, some rewards, aka new furniture and accessories.

A Kewlox wall cabinet is now holding all of my shoes.

A Charley Harper poster from 1977 is cheering up the entry. And of course, a little West German pottery never hurts.

The whole closet is now a sparkling white.

In the future, I'll probably be buying some Ikea boxes to make better use of those built-in shelves, but for now I just randomly dumped most of the closet stuff back in there.

Even the inside of the door frame got a fresh coat of paint. Although you have to dangerously twist around to actually see it. But what can I say, perfection is my middle name.

So to sum up, I used the Little Greene "Shirting" (left over from painting the hall last year) for the walls and trim, and Farrow and Ball "Pavillion Gray" (left over from repainting the kitchen) for the accent wall.

I confess, the Kewlox cupboard at 210 eur blew a bit of a hole in my budget, but turned out to be the only option given that this space is exceedingly narrow. So anything with drawers and doors other than sliding ones was out of the question. I did consider the Ikea Aspvik wall unit for a while, but it would have been less partical for storing shoes, as it does not come with a middle shelf. And for once, I did not want to wait for anything vintage to turn up on ebay.

So Kewlox it is ! And I'm very happy with my choice. I very much like how the checkerboard doors add some extra punch to the space. And in any case, being greeted by anything other than a complete mess when you enter my place, is a very nice change :-)

Catching up

2011-03-07T17:05:00.006+01:00

It's about time I start showing some of my latest thrift finds.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, in honour of spring timidly making a reappearance : a Strehla planter.

I love its funky lava circles, and the light green makes a perfect colour for early spring.

Another ebay success story, even though the shipping costs were higher than the actual price of the pot - 6 and 5 eur respectively. Still, in my book anything West German - or indeed East German - for under 20 eur surely is a score.

A few explanations

2011-02-27T10:14:00.014+01:00

Ikea Jorun rug - 149 eur.

Ebay wardrobe - 25 eur. I love the attention to detail of this 1950's design - curved sides and slightly concave body.

Thank you Meubles Collard for this beautiful addition to my bedroom. Modern and stylish ! I could not agree more.

Some changes have already happened since the last photo shoot ten days ago...

Italian art vase - 10 gbp. A souvenir from Fountain Antiques in Honiton. Works perfectly as a pencil holder and together with the Scheurich planter.

More high street buys. Habitat Tommy desk lamp (19 eur) and Ikea Cilla seat cushion (3.99 eur). Obviously the cushion is supposed to be for the cats, so they stop begging to climb on my lap when I'm sitting at the desk. June thinks it's the perfect tail rest...

50s bedroom chair - 8 gbp at the Marsh Barton car boot. I was so surpised by the low asking price that I didn't even try to haggle...

And with an old crochet cushion I had stowed away.

The thrift gods where definitely conspiring to further style up my bedroom.

Getting there

2011-02-17T19:57:00.011+01:00

I'm gonna shut up during this one and let the pictures do the talking...

I just wanted to end this post with a huge thank you to my good friend Laura who's been incredibly helpful hauling the wardrobe all the way through Brussels and reassembling the whole thing almost by herself (and with a little help from her partner Benoit). Yours truly only had to hold the flashlight (we worked at night) and admire the finished work...

Thank you Laura and Benoit, you're the best !

We're still in progress

2011-02-16T15:20:00.009+01:00

Does this ever happen to you ? You're in the middle of some major projects, crazy busy, and then all of a sudden you just seem to attract more and more projects, like a magnet...

Well, this is what happened to me anyway. I'm up to my chin in the kitchen and hall mess, and boom! new ideas keep rushing into my head. Uh, let's do some spring cleaning. Oh, let's get rid of some stuff on ebay. Uh, while I'm at it, let's check what's on offer on ebay this week. Uh oh, a 50s wardrobe for only 25 eur starting bid and not much interest from the ebay community ? Ah, let's follow that bid and see what happens...

Well, this is what happend (amongst other things).

Ta-da. My new (old) wardrobe. Of course, everything else got put on hold while I was busy dismantling, collecting, carrying, reassembling, cleaning, polishing, oiling and filling this thing up.

Because let's face it. New ebay purchases are soooooo much more interesting than dealing with paint, tape and brushes...

While I'm at it, let me also show you the other side. The second Tomado/beside-table is finally up. Remember ? It's from this ebay score way back in November. And I even found some artsy string thingy at Habitat to go over the bed.

Now, at this point you're probably wondering what the 'progress' title is all about ? I mean so far, it's all looking like it's neatly coming together - notwithstanding some tidying up of course.

Hhhmm, not so hasty. Here's what's lurking against the black wall.

The elephant in the room... very unfortunate.

And see how it's attracting all sorts of messes left and right ?

I'm so happy when this beast will finally be gone. I sold it to a thrift store in my area and they're coming by tomorrow morning to pick it up. They better not be late. I've got a lot of tidying, hoovering, cleaning and general decorating to do in here.

Plus, I really want to put the new Ikea rug in place. The one that's still in a roll, leaning against the wardrobe in the first picture. Ugh, I'm soooooooo curious to see how the room will look.

Door Handle Love

2011-02-15T08:42:00.010+01:00

OMG, you guys ! Things are crazy busy around here.

I'm still not finished with the hall and kitchen.

I've had one super score on ebay that needed a lot of attention and TLC.

I've sold some stuff on ebay that also required a lot of attention. And why, oh why, are ebay buyers never in a hurry to pick up their purchases ? I want the stuff gone ! GONE ! I need some room for my new projects.

Anway, I also made a thrift store owner very happy selling him my early 20th century wardrobe for a mere 50 eur. But again, I want the stuff GONE ! And on the upside, they're gonna come by Thursday morning to dismantle the whole thing and drive away with it. So, zero hassle for me.

I did some epic Ikea shopping.

I cuddled the kitties even more than usual.

I'm trying to get my act together for a short UK holiday. Antiques centres and car boot sales here I come !

And I took the time to enjoy life and the occasional sunny spell. Here are some more 60s door handles I spotted while taking a stroll through Saint-Josse and Schaerbeek with a friend.

We both agreed that this one looks like intestins...

Look who's joined the Fat Cat Residence

2011-02-08T16:01:00.005+01:00

Let me give you a hint. This is NOT June...

Flo !

That's what I called this adorable little cat girl. It's German for flea. Not because she's a major fleabag, but as a reference to her size. She's so tiny, especially compared to some of my boys.

I found her stranded in exactly the same spot as Watson - the very narrow and deep next door courtyard. And despite my best efforts to not let her reel me in, she has now taken up residence with us.
I tried several times to put her back up on the courtyard walls, so she could get home, but she kept jumping back down and following me. And in the end, I simply could not let a starving and crying kitten stay out in the cold... Yeah, I'm such a sucker!

I just can't believe how tiny she is. I really must try and get a picture of her and Charlie together. She's like a third of him.

Oh well. It's official. I've become a crazy cat woman. Or rather a crazy cat LADY ! Sounds more distinguished.

PS. Ok, I'm still stalling as regards the hall and kitchen redo. But I'm getting there, I swear. Everything just takes ten times more time than planned...

Thrift find

2011-02-02T14:52:00.010+01:00

While I’m busy slaving away, repainting the kitchen and the dreaded hall closet, I thought I’d keep you guys entertained with some pics of one of my latest thrift store finds.

A lovely wooden antelope found at Les Petits Riens for 4 eur. Initially priced at 5 eur, they were doing winter sales though, thus the 20% discount. I certainly won’t complain.

It has two 'injured' legs and was positively filthy, but a thorough washing and some awesome eco-friendly furniture oil did the trick.

I do however apologise to my trusted readers about doing a very sloppy dusting job. I obviously forgot to clean that corner right behind the lamp… Unfortunately, since then most of the contents of the hall closet and kitchen got dumped into the living room, making it impossible to do a more thorough cleaning, let alone take some new photos.

Anyway, stay tuned for some sexy “before” and “after” kitchen-hall-action coming up soon.

Fireplace

2011-01-27T07:47:00.009+01:00

Last week's post was a real eyeopener as far as my fireplace is concerned.

As much as I still don't like that thing (it's ugly, it's purely "decorative", it's placed in a really awkward angle etc.), I also realised that it really had come a long way since I decided to redecorate the living area way back in August 2009.

But I gonna shut up now and let the photos do the talking.

Before - in December 2009.

Now.

Again - before in December 2009.

And today. Jeez, a little paint and some sleek vintage decorating really can go a long way.

Tomado book shelf

2011-01-16T15:58:00.008+01:00

“I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.” - Anna Quindlen

Most of my decorating choices (and ultimate furniture purchases) have always revolved around finding enough space to host my evergrowing book collection. I am and always have been a voracious reader. And for me, books are by far the hardest to let go of. Although I confess, even I undertake the occasional, very limited (!) book purge for the sake of keeping my rad 50s bookcases.

Good thing then, that the planned kitchen overhaul has freed up one of the Tomado Holland shelves...

I have just the right nook for it in the living room.

For now, it's holding a small part of my art and archeology books, my stash of Living etc magazines from 2010, some random paperbacks (the ones small enough to fit that middle shelf) and of course, the stunningly beautiful Penguin Classics hardcover collection.

As my teak bookcases are almost filled to the brim, this makes for an ideal extension.

And that empty space underneath the Tomado, you're asking ?

Worry not ! I'm certainly not going to let it go to waste. I might just have thrifted a little something that would be perfect for that corner...

Paint samples and dreaming big

2011-01-11T17:30:00.006+01:00

Uh oh. Things are starting to get serious in the kitchen.

Yes, I'm testing grey paint samples. From top to bottom: Farrow & Ball's Pavillion Grey; Farrow & Ball's Hardwick White; The Litlle Greene's Eau de Nil.

The Pavillion Grey looks very promising. Especially since I saw Farrow & Ball's catch phrase, i.e. product description. "Cool... reminiscent of an elegant colour used in Sweden in the late 18th century under Gustav III...". Come on, a Scandi reference, what's not to love. And "elegant" would certainly be a step up from the kitschy retro theme I've got going for the moment. Hhhmmm, I'm so very tempted.

Anyhow. The Hardwick White is a definite no no. Too beigy brown for my taste. And Eau de Nil? I've been testing that colour for what seems like forever now, but I've never committed to it. So I should probably take the hint...

As for the big dreams part, I really want/need to paint those horrible beige floor tiles. I'm thinking black & white checkerboard. Maybe. I'm a bit scared of all the hassle. I'm also not sure if I have the patience to actually tackle a project like that.

And of course, I have to deal with all the "stuff" that's been accumulating in the kitchen lately. The table is a mess. The Tomado is barely better. And the fridge exterior ? God, I really need to implement a no magnets policy.

And still more pots...

2011-01-07T12:08:00.004+01:00

My post-Christmas, pre-New Year thrifting expedition yielded more besides the white porcelain vase. For instance, this funky West German plant pot.

My current favourite colours united - red and green. I could not pass this one up. And luckily at 4 eur, it wasn't too much of a splurge.

As luck would also have it, it's a prefect match to the red and green of my Charley Harper poster.

See.

The Doors

2011-01-04T15:58:00.005+01:00

This morning. Chaussée de Boondael. I stumbled across this awesome front door.

I am in love with that handle. And the glass pane behind it - equally stunning.

A few houses further down. Again. Wow.

You can sometimes spot these eyecatching handles on Brussels buildings from the 60s or 70s. I have no idea who manufactured them. And so far I have been unable to source any kind of information about them, but I know I am dying to find one on ebay or in a flea market for my own front door. Imagine being greeted by one of these each time you come home. Heaven.

White Collection

2011-01-02T14:50:00.008+01:00

What a difference a little daylight makes !

I promised a better glimpse at my white vases, and Mother Nature delivered.

Not a massive collection... yet. The two round ones I think I never blogged about, even though I did post some photos on my Flickr page (here, here and here). They are Kaiser porcelain, marked and signed by M. Frey.

A little more detail of the very delicate pattern.

And on a totally unrelated note, the plant certainly needs a "haircut". It's going all hippie on me.

Now the big, tall fella is part of my most recent thrift haul. It's a Royal Porzellan Bavaria KPM vase, 34 cm high and at only 6 eur a very welcome addition to my evergrowing stash of West German ceramics.

Like the others, this one isn't glazed either (at least not on the outside). And I love the rough texture. Reminds me a little bit of cookie dough. Yum.

A bit of a wider view. Maybe I'll eventually achieve a faboulous monochrome decor à la Brick House or Kitka Design Toronto ? But somehow I doubt that. And in any case, I'm already very proud to have matched the stereo with the vases and some of the artwork. Ha !

Note to self though : I definitely need to tackle the "vignetting" on the upper shelves.

And finally a little to-do to wrap this post up. This one reminds me that I really need to hang my She & Him poster. Why is it still leaning on the shelf ? God only knows.

And dude, the coffee table ? How long have I been meaning to refurbish it ? Probably since I first got it in 2006, almost 5 years ago...

Happy New Year !

2011-01-01T13:00:00.010+01:00

First of, let me wish you and your loved ones a beautiful 2011, full of happiness, good health, laughter and of course very rewarding home reno & deco projects :-)

I hope you all enjoyed the holidays ?! Mine were quiet and utterly uneventful. But let me just tell you this much, I am very relieved to be starting a new year. Yup, in my book 2010 sucked. Totally. I am just very grateful to have made it through it and to be done with it!

But at least the ebay gods were smiling on me one more time and 2010 did end in one last score.

A Tivoli Audio hi-fi system in white and silver, composed of their Model Two radio and their Model CD.

In Belgium these things retail around 650 eur. And even though I have been drooling over them for the longest time, I could never bring myself to spend such an insane amount of money on a hi-fi.

Along came ebay and I picked up this beauty for half the retail price ! Yes, still a LOT of money, but when you have lived with this monster of a hi-fi for the last 20 years, you're allowed to go crazy...

I'm so happy I got a bit carried away and took about a million pictures. All very grainy because of the gloomy weather. But hell, here we go.

In honour of my Tivoli acquisition, I also decided to move my collection of white West-German porcelain from the bedroom to the Cadovius shelves. I think all the white looks very neat together.

This is the best picture I could manage. Hopefully we will get more light in the next couple of days and I will be able to post more details.

And don't forget, you can still win these fabulous BFK bowls. Just check it out here.

Post-it note... sort of.

2010-12-30T16:16:00.007+01:00

I have never taken grey walls into serious consideration. In fact, I have expressed vehement opposition to this colour on more than one occasion. Comparing it to the dullest of Belgian weather. Boring. Sad. Deplorable. In one word: grey.

That is until I spotted this...

Found via Desire to Inspire.

Wow, this photo just blows my mind. I don't know what's more amazing, the green light, the red chairs, the painting over the stove... It's retro, it's eclectic, it's everything I like. And the grey walls make it look so classy !!!

Kids, hold on to your panties. My kitchen is in for one hell of an overhaul.

PS. Since I still haven't announced a winner, I guess my giveaway is still ongoing ;-) Check it out here.

Hall improvement

2010-12-17T11:03:00.012+01:00

Dear readers (if there are any left).

Fear not. A blogging comeback is imminent. I can feel it.

But yes, during the last months I have mostly been idle. Just a few small project here and there. Few and far appart. Like this.

This is what my front door used to look like. Before I started working on the hall, more than six months ago...
And this is the Ikea Spontan magnetic board. Purchased about six months ago as well...

Now with the help of my good friend Laura I finally managed to bring the two together.

Normally the Spontan board is supposed to be drilled into the wall with srews. But since I wanted the board to go up on the door - which is a hollow-core construct from the 50's by the way - I could hardly see myself drilling into it. So my friend suggested gluing the whole thing up.

Now we did not use super-glue for this, but rather something called "colle de montage" (construction glue) that Laura had left over from her house reno. This type of glue is used by professionals to stick together almost any construction materials. In fact, most of our houses here in Belgium are probably only holding up because of this concoction.

Anyway, Laura really applied herself and skillfully spread the glue.

And voilà ! After only a few minutes of pressing the board against the door, everything is securely in place.

Of course I also got some Spontan magnets in red and white to go with the board.

And there you have it. Improved front door and new board ready to hold all sorts of loose papers.

PS. Don't forget the giveaway right here. If you would like to win a set of vintage BFK bowls, all you need to do is leave a comment. I prolonged the deadline and I am going to announce the winner somewhere in early January, instead of mid-December as initially planned. Sorry folks, I just can't face the queues at the post office right now. Yeah I know I totally suck...

100th!

2010-11-28T12:52:00.010+01:00

When I started this blog over a year ago, I'd never have thought I'd make it to the 100th post. I usually have zero persistence when it comes to any activity...

But oh surprise, here we are. The 100th post.

To celebrate this major interweb event, I'm staging a little giveaway. Yeah, Christmas is coming early this year.
So if you want to have a chance at winning this set of lovely vintage Belgian bowls, just leave me a comment. I'm curious to read who you are and where you're from. I'll announce the winner in two weeks.

And from what I've seen on other blogs, nothing brings out the commentators as free loot... So bring it on guys.

Edit - Since I have been totally neglecting this little blog for the last few weeks and months, I think I will prolong the giveaway for a couple more weeks. Sort of a belated Christmas gift then... And hopefully by January I will have gotten my priorities right and will start blogging more regularly again :-)

Tomado loot

2010-11-11T17:04:00.010+01:00

I am unstoppable. Look what I scored on ebay last week.

That's right. More Tomado shelves ! 'Cos a girl can never have too many Tomados...

Ok now, what am I going to do with all these ?

1. Replace the orange and green metal shelves on the "bedside table" with two lovely wooden ones. Done.

Btw, I also swapped some art around. This is Sandro Juto's 'bookgirl' print, and it's definitely appropriate bedroom decor for somebody who could spend days in bed just reading.

A wider view. I still need to find some big-ass art to hang over the bed.

And of course :

2. Hang up the twin bedside Tomado on the left side.

And just for kicks the same space 'after' and 'before'. Almost one year apart.

Further on the Tomado to-do list:

3. Use the wider shelve for the kitchen Tomado. Done, but not yet documented.
Sorry I slept through most of the afternoon and now it's already too dark to take a decent photo. Just this much, I have now even more space for even more "onion men"...

4. Resell the leftovers. Half-way done. A friend came by to pick up the larger elements. I am now left with one big vertical piece, one small one and the two metal planks, all of which are going to be sold on ebay as spare parts. Someday.

Feeding my West German Pottery addiction

2010-11-04T11:31:00.004+01:00

Allow me introduce my latest WGP acquisition: an orange and green Bay vase, 30 cm tall, bought on ebay this week for 6 eur. Add to that about the same amount for shipping.

It's still a deal.

All Saints' Day

2010-11-02T11:14:00.004+01:00

No, I did not spend the day in Lothlorien...

I did however go through some good old traditional 'Toussaint' activities.

Drive to Luxembourg to visit family. Check. Spend about three minutes at the cemetery to honour the dead. Check. Instead spend three hours at lunch to honour the living. Check. Mandatory tax-free booze and cigarette shopping. Check.

What about you ? Did you have a long weekend ? Did you accomplish anything productive ?

Tomado Love

2010-10-26T17:06:00.012+02:00

Tomado love - always & everywhere !

In the bedroom, instead of bedside tables...

In the bathroom, to hold all my pretty products and potions (the ugly ones are hidden in a Componibili)...

And in the kitchen, collapsing under yet another manic collection of English and West German ceramics...

Yeah, amongst many other things, I am also obsessed by vintage English anthropomorphic vegetable pots. And "Onion men" in particular... But more about them another time.

And yes, I know. I need to do something about that wall colour in the kitchen. SOON !

Uh oh, I almost forgot. Thanks to yours truly, you can now stalk more photos of Tomado shelves in a Flickr group. Here is the link.

Public service announcement

2010-10-19T18:03:00.006+02:00

Ok guys. I need your help.

For my own very personal and very selfish sanity, please let's keep the sexiest guy on TV... on TV.

I'm talking about Michael Imperioli currently starring in the show Detroit 1-8-7. Which ABC is apparently already thinking of cancelling... Motherf*ckers.
Sopranos fans will of course remember him as Christopher Moltisanti, Carmela's junkie, up to no good cousin and occasional fiancé murderer... Ah good memories !

Anyway, I confess. I'm a huge sucker when it comes to good old-fashioned cop 'procedurals'. Think "Cold Case" or "The Wire", even CSI (but only Las Vegas !) to some extent. In our sad, tough times, there's something to be said about over-worked, emotionally stunted, yet devoted civil servants fighting crime and (almost) always setting the world right at the end of 45 min. Just with some good old police leg work and of course a ton of charm and sexiness.

Also ever since I discovered the awesome Sweet Juniper blog, I am totally obsessed with Detroit. Morbid curiosity probably, but Jeez what a fascinating place. To think that one of the richest cities in the US is literally falling back into total decay and oblivion...

So please, pretty pleeeeeease, if you're in the US, tune in Tuesday nights on ABC at 10.00 pm. And if you're outside the US, may I suggest you download this show via The Pirate Bay or Monova...

Yes, let's keep Detroit 1-8-7 alive ! The world needs it ! I need it !

Question : is there a TV series you are really crazy about ? To the point of total addiction ?
I'll let you in on another embarassing secret. I am hoarding all 15 seasons of ER on dvd, and could have totally gone on watching Dr. Carter break in new interns for at least another 15 seasons.

Living room update

2010-10-11T09:15:00.013+02:00

And yes, I am still improving my living room. Which is a bit weird, because now that I moved the desk to the bedroom, I hardly spent any time in here anymore. But it's still the room that inspires me the most.

It all started like this.

During one of my numerous stints to Ikea this summer, I was very pleased to discover they had drastically reduced the price of the Koldby cowhide rug - down from 199 eur to 129 eur. Such a substantial discount could of course not be resisted and a gorgeous grey cowhide came home with me.

It was huge and dark and shiny, in one word: fabulous. I was totally under its spell... in the shop... because once in my living room, the rug turned out to be waaaayyy disappointing. I never really got accustomed to it, too dark, too big, too grey.

Weeks later, the whole thing was returned (thank god for Ikea's 90 days return policy!) and the freed up cash was directly invested towards a new Ikea purchase...

Yes, that really is an Ikea rug. They are obviously & totally milking the current trend for oriental rugs. But - as I think I have mentioned before - one of the rare things I prefer to buy new, is actually rugs. I hate to think of what filth and bodily fluids might be hiding in a vintage one. And having a vintage rug professionally cleaned... you might as well buy a new one!

Ikea has them listed under the improbable name of Persisk Kelim Gashgai. Incredibly enough they are handmade in Iran, making them real Persian rugs. And a friendly and helpful Ikea employee even informed that each rug is unique. Not bad at all for Ikea.

Now this time around I know I found a long time companion. The rug is colourful but wonderfully muted at the same time. Definitely not too garrish, which might be a problem with all the lively pottery I have standing around. In fact, the red exactly matches the chairs and is a really nice reminder to all my vintage ceramics.

Bonus photo: the same space at night. Think of it as compensation for the missing 'before' shot with huge dark cowhide...

Always room for more ceramics

2010-10-09T14:03:00.012+02:00

Ok, lately I haven't been posting as much as I'd like (more about the reasons for this another time). But one area where I am never idle is - you guessed it - the thrifting front.

First off, a couple of finds from a recent trip to Germany.

Little vintage planter bought for 3 eur. A little more subdued than my usual West German pottery buys, but nevertheless looking good on the Cadovius shelves.

Now this is more like it. Large Übelacker vase for only 5 eur. Yes!

"Zyklon" vase designed by Cari Zalloni and manufactured by Steuler.

Not a thrift find, but a present from my Mum. It used to decorate her bedroom back in the 60's and it's one of the very rare trinkets she's kept from that time. I have been uuh-ing and aah-ing over it each time I came to visit, hinting heavily that it would make a perfect addition to my WGP collection.

I am now happy to report that a few weeks ago I finally managed to wear her down...

A close relative to my West German ceramics. A Dutch owl money box found at the Brussels flea market for 5 eur.

The ever growing collection.

Good thing the Nathan sideboard is so big. There's still plenty of room for more thrift finds. Yay!

New night table

2010-09-19T17:04:00.011+02:00

The one side of the bedroom I am still unhappy with, is where the bed is now standing.

Big empty wall, crying for some colour and/or some art...

Night table on the left - boring...

Night stand on the right - boring AND messy...

I have of course big dreams of matching floating MCM night tables. Something of this order would be good.

But alas, in the meantime I have tried out all the wall shelves at my disposal (i.e. those pining away in the cellar). All of the above where considered and rejected.

Until...

Enter my Mum's birthday present, i.e. an ebay buy where I did all the bidding and she did all the financing ;-) Thanks very much Mum !

A cute little Tomado shelf that made it all the way from Sheffield, UK, thanks to the friendly ebay seller.

This Tomado is the smaller version at about 40 x 40 cm - and pretty hard to find in this size. But a damn perfect fit for a night table!

Btw - the needlepoint cat? That's one of my UK holiday souvenirs. Bought at the Marsh Barton car boot sale - for a pound.
I think that cat is too cute for words, as is the rug it's sitting on. Plus I was very touched to see that somebody (probably the maker) took the pains of having it professionally framed. Makes you wonder who that considerate person was.

So now I all I need to do is find me a matching Tomado for the other side. The thrifting never ends. Does it?

More thrift finds

2010-09-07T11:00:00.010+02:00

Moving on with the presentation of my latest thrift finds...

A few weeks ago, I had a very rewarding visit to the Brussels flea market. Very rewarding in the West German pottery sense, of course.

I had been coveting the Scheurich Amsterdam (aka sliced onion) pattern vases for a while now. Needless to say that I was very happy when I spotted this cute little red number and when the seller only wanted 5 eur for it. Sold !

Another 5 eur find - a rad floor vase. Fitting right in with my UK holiday souvenir.

See.

Technically not a flea market find, since it came from an antique shop and I paid top euro for it - 25 to be precise. But nevertheless found in the flea markt vincity and purchased during the same thrifting expedition. Love love love the stunning shape.

The ever growing red collection.

And starting to hang up some art over the sideboard. Chillida print, found on ebay (where else?), one of Ashley G's ceramic medallions and a Habitat clock (on sale!), until I can locate a vintage sunburst clock...

Manna Hommage

2010-09-06T19:02:00.005+02:00

A little wink to one of my favourite bloggers - this fine lady from Brooklyn.

Strange encounters not only happen in the streets of NY, sometimes they are right outside your door.

Hello Mrs Bovine, how did you get up there ?

Ebay find

2010-09-05T10:32:00.005+02:00

Ah bless! Three weeks of freedom - aka the (somewhat belated) summer holidays - await me.

After sleeping through most of the last 36 hours, I thought I'd kick off the holidays by showing you some of my latest thrifting/ebay finds.

This gorgeous Scheurich Ceramos vase caught my eye on ebay a few weeks back.

The super nice seller had listed it for a 12 eur 'buy it now' price, but immediately accepted my offer of 8 eur. Add 6 eur for shipping - that's always the catch, isn't it ? - and you get a still decent price tag of 14 eur for this beauty.

I was pretty pleased with myself.

A welcome addition to my neglected orange & yellow collection of West German pottery.

And yes, I am trying a more minimal look on the Cadovius shelves. But more of that later.

Ode to a cat

2010-08-31T12:33:00.003+02:00

This has nothing to do with anything. I just stumbled upon these people's homage to their cat. Right here.

Now if this doesn't make you laugh out loud or at least bring a smile to your face, you are one hell of sour puss...

Black is beautiful

2010-08-17T19:12:00.010+02:00

Finally ! The living room is starting to look presentable from all angles.

I have been contemplating giving this wall a bit of colour for a while now. But nothing really stuck. I don't like grey (and if you lived in Belgium, where the weather is grey 300 days per year, I am sure you wouldn't either). And after living with bright yellow walls for a few years, I have already experienced how fast you can get tired of anything too colourful.

So this weekend, motivated by the imminent arrival of my latest ebay 'folie' and some leftover paint from the bedroom still at hand - I went black. Again.

And you know what they say. Once you go black...

And yes. Nothing makes a black wall pop more than vintage teak (or vice versa).

Here it is, my latest ebay find: a Nathan blond teak sideboard from their 'Corinthian' line, a proud beast at over 2 m long.

Nathan was a UK furniture manufacturer, who like many of his competitors went Scandinavian during the 60's. Inspired by the then widely popular Danish designs, they produced several ranges of teak furniture. (You can find out more about Nathan at this lovely site dedicated to British mid-century design).

It also makes a wonderful display area for some my West German ceramic finds.

And it's the ideal spot for my 70's WGP table lamp. Although I am seriously doubting my decision of adding the lime green lamp shade. Suggestions anyone ?

And of course, the detail that makes me swoon. Rosewood handles.

Pure luxury.

Now I still need to sort out a few kinks. Most importantly, outlets and light switches need to be spray painted black. Mum, hope you don't mind if I squat your garage this weekend ?

And then I am fantasizing about prints, posters and paintings all the way up to the ceiling. One day. Maybe.

Bedroom landslide

2010-08-07T16:26:00.024+02:00

What happend over the weekend isn't totally my fault.

See, I only intended to move the desk from the living room back into the bedroom, in the hopes of :

a- making better use of all that empty space in the bedroom.

b- decluttering the overflowing living room.

But you know how it is with the best-laid plans...

Turns out that fitting the desk in here required more than just a good push and some annoying cable fiddling. A whole rethinking of the space was in order...

Before, when coming through the door.

After.

First off, moving the bed around - funnily enough it's now back to its initial position from when I first moved in 5 years ago. Which is actually a good thing, as all the electrical outlets had been planned around that area...

Then, dragging my beloved highboard across the room. It looks even more beautiful against the black wall than it did before.

Definitely worth a few bruises and a sore back - that thing weighs like a ton and I did all the moving myself...

Even the plants look nicer against the dark background.

So now, instead of sleeping here...

I get to enjoy reading, filing papers and more generally dumping clothes & bedspreads in that corner.

But I think the change certainly agrees with my roommates...

The kitties exhausted from all the hard work I did...

And finally, a little close-up of the new desk decor - more plants, what else ?

And I get to show off my first ever Arabia find - a blue planter found at my favourite thrift shop for a very reasonable 14 eur.

Thrifty update

2010-08-05T20:19:00.010+02:00

Now before this is turning into a total music blog, allow me to show off some of my latest thrift finds - West German of course.

It wouldn't have been much of a UK holiday if I hadn't roamed through various antiques centres. Here's some of my loot.

My second floor vase, after this one - paid the usual 30 GBP ! Unfortunately it's still residing at my brother's, didn't want to take any chances on the train trip home... but it's making the move (by car) soon enough.

A little Scheurich vase - bought for 16 GBP. I know the price seems a bit disproportionate compared to the floor vase that is about 3 times as tall. But I find the red stripes irresistible.

This Bay Keramik vase I purchased on ebay this weekend for 5 eur. Nobody else was interested, so now it's mine :-)

Now this is my best WGP find so far - and by far ! Another ebay score - at 29 eur. I really need to find this beauty a place of choice.

Which brings me to the most tedious part. Trying to make an appealing display. Pfffff, what a pain!

And the above is DEFINITELY NOT the way to go. Let's hope the upcoming weekend finds me more inspired.

Blast from the past

2010-08-04T21:07:00.005+02:00

Oh man, I am housecleaning and chucking out old stuff... and what do I stumble upon ?

Yep, New Order's True Faith on audio tape, from 1987. Shit, I am ancient...

Enjoy kids ;-)

Tube de l'été

2010-07-16T06:42:00.004+02:00

Ok I am off for a few days to greener pastures. Yay !

But worry not, I am leaving you in good company - with Belgian phenomenon Stromae. So let's forget our problems, and let's dance...

And for those of you curious about less common and more experimental music, check out this guy's blog radio.

News on the Western front

2010-07-13T15:31:00.014+02:00

My obsession with West German pottery is growing and so is my collection.

I have been running behind on showing you my latest finds. So first off, a few Brussels flea market finds from a few weeks ago.

Bay vase in sh-sh-shiny red - 5 EUR. Brilliant !

A very different kind of glazing - very mat - on this pair of Dümler & Breiden vases. Paid 13 EUR for the two.

I love that you can still spot some air bubbles on the glazing.

Yes, another planter... This one I bought on ebay for 14 EUR (including shipping) and I am under the charm of the bold orange & turquoise colour combo.

The seller turned out to be a total dickhead, making me wait for weeks and then asking for an additional postage fee. I had to threaten him with bad reviews and ebay litigation before he finally sent me the planter... but definitely worth all the trouble.

And finally a narrow little vase - totally unmarked - but still West German I am guessing. Paid 18 EUR at Mouche for it. I find the fat lava glazing irresistable and that red...

Weekend action

2010-07-11T17:12:00.004+02:00

Take 1 - some light demolition work, i.e. Dad and Charlie taking the old dining table apart.

Take 2 - reaping the benefits of all that hard labour, i.e. a light lunch at the new dining table. Note: removing the dismantled old table before sitting down to eat, would be too much of an effort...

Take 3 - take a well deserved rest !

And that's about all we managed to accomplish around here in this heat.

Rear balcony update

2010-07-06T11:40:00.009+02:00

Remember this post six weeks ago ? Both the front and the rear balcony were still really naked.

Not anymore.

The vegetables are doing well. I have added some flowers (million bells and petunias). And the herbs are hanging in there (although I lost my thyme - as usual...).

Now fingers crossed for harvest time ! And that I finally find some decent & small outdoor furniture, that I can enjoy summer on my balconies.

Heat wave

2010-07-04T09:07:00.006+02:00

What a life...

Fat Cat on the edge...

2010-06-29T23:15:00.005+02:00

This is a perfect expression of my present state of mind.

Lyrics

"Sois pauvre et tais-toi

Oui sois pauvre et tais-toi

Toi la petite caissière !

Il n'y a que ton salaire

En promo chez Leclerc...

Oui sois pauvre et tais-toi

Toi le p'tit fonctionnaire

Tu devrais avoir honte

De nous coûter si cher !

Et si t'es pas content

Comme dit le président

Et si t'es pas content

T'as qu'à foutre le camp...

Tous les jours on galère

Dans le RER

Serrés comme du bétail

On se rend au travail

Pendant que Nicolas

Fait son footing au bois

On se gèle sur les quais

En attendant l'tramway.

Oui sois pauvre et tais-toi

Toi le sapeur pompier

Tu sais, sauver des vies

Ca rapporte pas de blé

Oui sois pauvre et tais-toi

Toi le petit cheminot

Tu sais les privilèges

C'est pas pour les prolos !

Tous les jours on galère (bis)

Oui sois pauvre et tais-toi

Toi la p'tite infirmière

On t'les paiera jamais

Tes heures supplémentaires

Oui sois pauvre et tais-toi

Toi la p'tite caillera

Fume ta marijuana

Et surtout bouge de là...

Oui sois pauvre et tais-toi

Oui sois pauvre !"

Front balcony update

2010-06-29T12:26:00.018+02:00

So far, so good.

Let me just tell you this much - the cats and I are enjoying ourselves on the balcony this year. And the flowers and veggies seem to be doing fine as well.

No 'modern' landscaping for me though, the key word here is 'English garden'.

The notion of only having gravel, geometric shapes and maybe some bamboo or grasses in an outdoor space is totally ridiculous in my eyes. Why do people even bother having a garden, when all they do is slap more concrete on it ? Leave the garden-apartments for me then. I'll show you how it's done !

Ebay find

2010-06-24T12:34:00.010+02:00

Oh man, this is what I call perfect timing.

In Belgium, employees get what is called a 'pécule de vacances', i.e. some extra cash on top of their monthly salary, usually paid out in May or June, just in time for the holidays ("vacances" = holiday, for those not fluent in the "langue de Molière" :-).

I got mine on Monday and since I don't like travelling, I thought I might as well spend it on my flat.

Enter the latest ebay find - the PURRRR-FECT dining table.

Made of massive teak, Danish quality controled no less, a super cute 104 cm large, and still extendable to seat 6 if need be - and reasonably priced. A dream come true.

Seeing the above styling by the ebay seller, makes me kinda regret buying all those Eames chairs though...

Anyway, it's still a million times better than the current situation.

Now all I have to do is wait for it to get here - it's being delivered from Germany.

I hate waiting.

Hall inspiration

2010-06-23T11:00:00.010+02:00

Now that the hall repainting is moving along nicely, it's time to consider the more enjoyable bits - furnishing & accessories. Yay !

My hall is cursed with a very, very tight closet space and this Ikea Aspvik cabinet is the most serious contender for fitting in there. Catch a glimpse of the space here.

Impossible to put in anything with drawers or doors. There is just no room left for opening said drawers or doors. So sliding doors it is !

Although not as original as a vintage find, the Aspvik design is at least simple and sleek enough not to be too offensive. I am still debating though wether it's worth spending 130 EUR on it ?

As far as the Aspvik range goes, I actually prefer this wall unit. Less bulky, way cheaper and wall mounted - which is fantastic for easy cleaning access. However, it's the wall mounting part that's the issue here. I doubt that the power drill, the cabinet AND I will fit in this space - maybe I should consider hiring a midget installer or child labor ? Just kidding.

Saying good-bye

2010-06-20T20:30:00.005+02:00

... to my little Mr Potato Man (aka the Alien) sticker.

He greeted me every day from the entry door. And his cute little shape made me smile every time. He was a good sticker !

He fell victim to the great hall remodel of 2010. RIP sweetie.

Bye bye.

Glimpses of the weekend

2010-06-16T15:46:00.016+02:00

Is it weird to post pictures of the weekend in the middle of the week ?

Well, I guess I am weird then, or maybe really looking forward to the next weekend ?

On the menu from last weekend:

beautiful flowers on the front balcony

the hall getting whiter & whiter - under close supervision of Mr. Watson) !

Lots and lots of sleepy cats... including one asleep on my stretched out legs...

Still fussing

2010-06-13T09:03:00.008+02:00

Arranging the Cadovius unit is proving to be a challenge. But I will not be defeated !

The shelves are currently in their fourth major configuration. Tell me what you think.

Now.

And before I get any snide comments - the empty space in the middle is where one of the Small Stakes posters is going...

Last week.

Today.

Last Saturday.

After.

Before.

Verdict ? Better or worse ?

And more generally any tips or ideas on "vignetting" ? Gosh, what a dreadful word. And what a dreadful thing to do - vignetting... But once again, I will NOT be defeated !

The new sofa quest has started

2010-06-11T11:54:00.012+02:00

A strange phenomenon is going on in the living room. The new gorgeous Cadovius shelving unit not only sreams to be accompanied by some fancy artwork. It also makes everything else in the room look battered, tired and ugly.

And this piece especially.

A shot from way before. Because I love shoking my audience. Ha ha haa.

No seriously. I need to replace this old sleeper couch from Habitat (now discontinued). It's only five years old but time has not been kind to it. And by time read - the cats, the bright sunlight and my big fat ass... Watson has scratched it to the point that the filling is spilling out (more or less cleverly hidden by the sheepskin). Too much light is turning the black covers into purple ones. Yikes, and that is one colour I can't stand - purple. As for my big fat ass... well it's caving in about everywhere - the sofa I mean (not my ass)...

Time to consider alternatives.

Ikea to the rescue.

Karlstad 2-seater from their new tufted leather range - EUR 749. I love the white. But with the cats a white fabric sofa is totally out of the question. Now white LEATHER on the other hand... Hhhmmm, sexy AND wipeable !

Or maybe black after all ?

Btw, has anybody noticed, Ikea seems to be reorganising their sofa offer - a new (not too convincing) range (Kivik), Kramfors only in leather, and worst of all, no more Lillberg sofas. WTF - the Belgian website is only carrying the rockers and the US site does not even have these at all. Really ? They are discountinuing the beautiful Lillberg series ? Does anybody know what's going on ?

Rock on

2010-06-09T08:37:00.007+02:00

Now that the living room furnishing is finally coming together, all my big empty walls are starting to piss me off. I need some "art".

But good god ! Who knew that good art would be so difficult (and majorly expensive !) to come by? I certainly didn't.

I've been roaming ebay for months now, trying to find me some sleek modern prints or paintings. Not sure what I want exactly and being less than knowledgable when it comes to contemporary art doesn't help, but two things I know for certain. I don't want anything too "op art" - these things make me dizzy - and I don't want something too colourful either - there's already a lot of colour mixes going on with all my West German pottery and Carlton Ware collections, both of which I am planning on expanding in the future. So something black & white (with maybe some red or green) would be ideal. Plus it needs to be BIG. Which makes buying some cutsy etsy print out of the question.

Now some desperate late night internet surfing made me come by an exceedingly cool poster shop. The Small Stakes sells silkscreened posters designed by Jason Munn for the likes of Sonic Youth or Nada Surf, to name just a few.

Ok, I'll stop jabbering and come to the point. This is what I bought.

Not too colourful, definitely not op art, good sized, affordable - they are pretty close to perfection. But mostly they do appeal to my fetish for vinyl and vintage electronics.

Let me just ask you. Is it wrong to hang up posters of bands you have never heard of before or havn't listened to in years ? I confess, I have no idea who She & Him is and I only vaguely recollect having liked Nada Surf about 15 years ago... But dude, do I like the design of these posters !

Subsidiary question for all you art aficionados out there : can a poster be considered as art ? You know being potentially mass-produced and all...

Ebay SCORE !

2010-06-05T08:03:00.024+02:00

Ok. Here it goes.

About two months ago, I scored big time on ebay. Against all odds, I managed to dig out a mispelled and very poorly photographed bid for a... Poul Cadovius Royal System wall unit!!!

305 EUR, a short drive and lots of drilling later (thanks Dad for the last two :-), it's now mine. MINE.

Remember this eye sore of a wall ?

All a distant memory.

Shazzammm, as The Brick House likes to say.

Let me just mention that one of the shelves and the magazine shelf were bought later on via Aardewerk en Zo.

These guys are located in The Netherlands and specialise in Royal System wall units. They not only sell whole set-ups, but also spare parts. Ideal for anyone wanting to broaden or complete their system.

Of course I have been fiddling with the whole thing for the last two months.

Here you can see the very first set-up.

That big empty space was supposed to accommodate a potential future TV. But have I since then burned through that budget...

And then the second phase.

Oh, and I almost forgot. My initial ebay win also included a matching dining table and extension.

Some day maybe I could go for something like this.

Sneaky

2010-06-02T08:55:00.003+02:00

The landslide of mess that got dumped from the hall to the living room is preventing me from making a proper post of the big living room switcheroo.

So for now, this little peek will have to do.

Mr Snuggles x 2

2010-05-26T20:55:00.004+02:00

Bless ! My two feisty boys all snuggled up and squeezing into one of the Eames chairs. The most coveted chair in the whole house - in armsreach of the blogging Fat Cat. Whoever's in there gets the most cuddles...

Note to cat owning design fans - do not despair finding a cool cat bed. Just invest in some Eames chairs, cats truly love Eames. AND you will never find a more low maintenance product, just WIPE off the cat hair. How wonderful is that ?

Getting ready for summer

2010-05-25T08:55:00.026+02:00

While the hall painting is at a total stand still, I did at least get busy on my balconies. The beautiful weather does help.

Playing around with different levels to try and make things more interesting. The front balcony is very long and narrow and instead of just lining up the pots, I thought I would try a different approach this year.

Beautiful clematis "Snow Queen" - replacing this filthy ivy...

A reminder from the end of last season...

This years summer colours - white geraniums, yellow bidens and I sowed some orange nasturtiums.

Clematis at the other end - full of flower heads. Promises, promises.

A bit of a wider view. For the moment I added the table from my rear balcony. Makes gardening easier, but it's only a temporary set-up as it's too large and I have to really make an effort to squeeze by.

No effort on June's part however.

The small terrace at the rear of the apartment. I decided to ditch the table and chairs that were cluttering up the place (again very hard to squeeze by) and go wild on plants instead.

Unfortunately there still isn't enough room for a deck chair, but I am thinking about investing in a couple of Ikea stools (the classic Frosta probably) and maybe some sort of fold-down table, just to be able to enjoy the sun out here.

From left to right : rhubarb, honeysuckle, agapanthus & another clematis (called "Princess Diana").

Crocosmia and rudbeckia.

Herb windowsill garden - rosemary, purple basil, strawberry, lemon thyme, chives and oregano.

Some left-over geraniums from the front planters. I am really trying to get the most out of my tiny outdoor space.

Not much to see here, but I did sow some dwarf runner beans, ideal for container gardening. First time I am trying these and I am very curious to see how they will do.

And still inside, my tomato seedlings - waiting to be planted out. Yet another project where I am running behind. Crap !

More West German pottery finds

2010-05-23T19:47:00.010+02:00

Let me introduce you to my long weekend thrift finds, brought to you exclusively from my mum's beautiful garden.

Pots also deserve a bit of sunshine and fresh air after living in this dark and musty thrift shop for so long.

As usual, I got mostly planters (5 white ones, 2 brown ones and one gorgeous blue one), but also an amazing floor vase and a super cute 70's peanuts dispenser. You can find details of all the pottery marks here. The price tags added up to over 30 EUR, but the super nice thrift shop lady let me leave with the whole lot for 25 EUR...

Close-up of the floor vase for your viewing delight.

This vase is actually an order for a very good friend of mine. I had spotted this vase months ago, told my friend about it and had promised to bring it back for her .Now I finally delivered ! Plus I am turning into a personal (thrift) shopper. YEAH !

Paper sticker, marks and signatures. Can anybody help me identify the manufacturer ?

Now this yummy petrol blue Übelacker planter I am keeping for myself :-) Again if anybody knows the name of the pattern, please do share.

And finally, the WMF peanuts dispenser. I had bid on some a couple of times on ebay, but was outdone each time. They usually go for much more than I am willing to pay. 5 EUR however... call it mine. Ha !

Latest Carlton Ware find

2010-05-21T11:11:00.007+02:00

Welcome to your new home, little horsy !

I got you at an ebay charity auction to help the Watford Peace Hospice (who is trying to raise £ 3 million this year - check it out here and here) and I am feeling (almost) good for spending £ 32 on you...

And here you are surrounded by your new family. How cute is that ?

Hall stand still

2010-05-17T16:40:00.012+02:00

Pfffff, trying to find motivation to get going with the hall paint... I wonder how some manage to find the energy to paint a whole house ?

I confess, I have been a very lazy fat cat this weekend. Bad fat cat ! BAD ! No progress to report.

But cruising the Ikea website for some inspiration, I stumbled upon these.

Alex drawer unit (with 9 drawers) - 99 EUR.

I am thinking that this would be a perfect fit for the messy walk in closet in the hall. If I get two, they would hold all my shoes perfectly, plus some other nick nacks (like scarfs, mittens, umbrellas, etc.)

This fella is definitely getting a closer look during my next big blue & yellow visit. Although I am also thinking that 200 EUR (for two) might be a bit pricy...

Maybe this version would be enough ? It's still 100 EUR though, but I kinda dig the casters - very practical for cleaning up all the cat fur bunnies hiding in that closet...

Look you can even get it in black ! Hhhmmm.

One thing is certain though. I am definitely getting one of these "Hang it all" thingys. But no way am I spending 200 EUR for the Vitra version - those guys are fucking insane when it comes to pricing !

Instead I spotted a nice English bloke selling knock-offs on ebay for 35 GBP + 10 GBP shipping. Now that I can live with.

Plus you have to admire this guys balls - ranting on about how his hangers are indeed knock-offs, but really GOOD quality ones as opposed to the cheapos from China. Now that's the spirit !

A bank holiday well spent...

2010-05-14T14:17:00.025+02:00

No rest for the weary. Yesterday I got started on the hall renovation.

Here are a few before shots. And yes, it's the same dreaded yellow that used to adorn the living room...

View from the bedroom door towards the entrance.

The "windowed" door (quite sure this isn't the correct technical term - please feel free to enlighten me) leads to the bathroom. And the one at the end (actually only the frame remains) towards the kitchen.

View from the entrance towards the living room (left) and the bedroom (right). And that bit of a dark hole on the far left of the picture, that's a tiny walk-in closet where I stack my recycling boxes and coat rack (and all sorts of other nonsense).

First hint that I did some changes to the living room. My antique English bookcase now lives in this corner of the hall (it used to be here).

Same corner way before...

Ebay success was achieved and this cupboard was sold and picked up by the new owners a few weeks ago. Yeah !

My little 50's shelf (from my Mom's old bedroom) holding some of my collections. Yes, amongst numerous other things I am totally obsessed with Danish wooden vikings. Also up there : pessimist and optimist figurines by Hans Bolling (get a clearer view of them over at Kitka) and the "Come on in" print by AshleyG.

Playing around with paint samples. I thought about going green at one point, but with the lack of natural light in the hall, I am not too convinced by this option. So white it is, for the time being.

Btw, this also gives you a slightly better view of the closet. The first thing I did when I moved in 5 years ago was remove the door to that space (it opened out into the hall and wasn't practical at all) and also the door to the kitchen. Three dooors (including the entrance one) filling up my tiny entrance space was way too much, so two of them went the way of the dodo...

But what did I actually get done yesterday ? Besides some serious cleaning and moving out of all the furniture and objects (cluttering up the living room yet again - grrrrrrr), I primed the ceiling ! And then I had to lie down because I was feeling dizzy... Seriously, all that straining to my neck must have been a total shock to the system...

But after a bit of rest, I started on the walls ! And then I ran out of masking tape...

I admit this wasn't my most productive day.

Planned for tonight, a visit to the Brico to stock up on painting supplies and an early night to hopefully avoid further fainting spells - no more excuses for the weekend !

Unrelated side note : the new dishwasher got its first try-out yesterday and I absolutely LOVE it !!!